Tripoli: Libya`s defence minister is accusing his former deputy of trying to assassinate him in eastern Libya.

In a statement issued today, Defense Minister Mohammed al-Barghathi claimed Siddiq al-Ghaith was behind the attack on his convoy in the city of Tobruk. He says his former deputy carried out the attack because he recently was replaced with a new deputy.

The defense minister was in Tobruk near the Libyan-Egyptian border yesterday for a ceremony where former rebels were handing security for an airport over to the military.

Conflicting reports emerged after the incident.

Defense spokesman Adel al-Baraathi told The Associated Press yesterday that the minister`s convoy was caught in clashes between the former rebels and new airport security guards. Al-Ghaith told reporters that tribal clashes were to blame.